Page last updated: 2008-9-1
AircrewHealth.comThe aircraft cabin is similar to other indoor environments, such as homes and offices, in that people are exposed to a mixture of outside and recirculated air.
However, the cabin environment is different in many respects -- for example, the high occupant density, the inability of occupants to leave at will, and the need for pressurization.
In flight, people encounter a combination of environmental factors that includes low humidity, reduced air pressure, and potential exposure to air contaminants, such as ozone, carbon monoxide, various organic chemicals, and biological agents.
What follows below is an outline of the main issues related to air quality in aircraft.
Reduced cabin pressure occurs on nearly all flights.
Potential Health Impacts:
Elevated concentrations are expected primarily on aircraft without ozone converters.
Potential health impacts:
Exposure frequency is not known.
Potential Health Impacts:
High concentrations could occur during air-quality incidents. Frequency of incidents is highly uncertain but is believed to be low.
Potential Health Impacts:
Frequency of incidents in which these fluids enter the cabin is highly uncertain, but is expected to be relatively low.
Potential Health Impacts:
Exposure likely on some international flights. (See Resources below for more information about the issue of Aircraft "disinsection" with pesticides).
Potential Health Impacts:
Concentrations are generally below FAA regulatory limits.
Potential Health Impacts:
Can be present on any flight.
Potential health impacts:
Low relative humidity occurs on most flights.
Potential Health Impacts:
Source: National Research Council. The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. Distributed electronically Dec. 2001; bound report copyrighted 2002.
Click here for recent news stories and media releases about Aircraft Cabin Air Quality.
Here are some trustworthy on-line sources of information about Aircraft Cabin Air Quality.
Cabin Air Quality Issues - IFALPA Safety Bulletin, May, 2008
[PDF format - 2 pages]
Aircraft Air Quality - AFA-CWA: Air Safety, Health & Security Dept., April, 2006
Cabin Air Quality - UK Civil Aviation Authority, 2004
[PDF format - 52 pages]
Aviation Safety:
More Research Needed on the Effects of Air Quality on Airliner Cabin Occupants - US
General Accounting Office (GAO), January, 2004
[PDF format - 69 pages]
BRE study of air quality in the aircraft cabin - UK Dept. for Transport, 2004
The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew - The National Academies Press, 2002
Study of possible effects on health of aircraft cabin environments - UK Dept. for Transport, 2001
IAQ on Passenger Planes - by Jolanda N. Janczewski, PhD, American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 1999
[PDF format]
Health Hazard Evaluation Report, Alaska Airlines - National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, January, 1993
[PDF format - 39 pages]
The Airliner Cabin Environment - The National Academies Press, 1986
Commercial Airplanes: Cabin Air Systems - Boeing
Pesticides - AFA-CWA: Air Safety, Health & Security Dept., January, 2006
Aircraft Disinsection Requirements - U.S. Dept. of Transportation, November, 2005
Disinsection On Board Aircraft - Commercial & Business Aviation Advisory Circular, Transport Canada, October, 2005
Disinsection Procedures On Board Aircraft - Transport Canada, May, 2005
Flight Attendants call for end to on-board insecticides - by Don McIntosh, Northwest Labor Press, (Oregon AFL-CIO), May 2004
Occupational Illness Among Flight Attendants Due to Aircraft Disinsection - State
of California, Health & Human Services Agency, October, 2003
[PDF format - 45 pages]
In the interest of facilitating further research on the topic of Aircraft Cabin Air Quality, we have compiled a list journal articles and other references related to the topic.
Some of the items listed here were used as source material to prepare this information page about Aircraft Cabin Air Quality.
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